Quick connect coupling

ABSTRACT

The present invention is an improved quick to connect and quick to disconnect fluid coupling of the type having a clip, a male portion having an annular groove adapted to receive the clip, a female portion, and a sealing element. It is improved by the female portion having a dual function frustoconical portion adapted to compress the sealing element during joinder of the male portion with the female portion as well as to compress the clip into the annular groove in preparation of separating the male portion from the female portion. Further, a sleeve is slideably placed about the male portion and adapted to capture the clip compressed within the annular groove.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationSer. No. 60/610,680, filed Sep. 17, 2004 and entitled QUICK CONNECTCOUPLING. The subject matter of this application is incorporated hereinby this reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to flexible hose couplings. Moreparticularly, it relates to a novel and improved quick connect hosecouplings. Specifically, it relates to an improved push-to-connect andquick to disconnect flexible hose coupling.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Quick connect couplings are known. In such couplings a port adapter mayinclude the female portion or port and be pre-assembled on an associatedfixture, machine or equipment or the female portion or port may bemachined as part of associated fixtures, machinery or equipment. Thehose connection or male portion or hose stem, including a hose insertportion and a ferrule, are attached to an open end of the hose to beconnected to the fixture, machinery or equipment. The hose stem portionhas a hose insert portion, which is inserted into the open end of thehose. The ferrule is then compressed about the hose end containing theinsert causing all portions to be permanently affixed. Merely pressingthe hose connection portion into the female portion or port subsequentlycompletes the hose connection. Such quick connect couplings areparticularly desirable when the hose must be connected in a locationwhich is not readily accessible since it eliminates the need forstarting the threads and the danger of cross threading and eliminatesthe need to use a related tool which might not fit in the availablespace. Since the port adapter may be threaded into place as apre-assembly operation, or the port preexisting in the associatedfixture, machine or equipment, it is easy to insure that the port isproper and ready. Further, the time of assembly and, in turn, theassembly costs are reduced.

Historically, the considerations that have driven the design of suchcouplings have included complexity of port design, effectingmachineability, complexity of stem design, complexity and location ofsealing elements such as o-rings or other shape of seals, complexity andlocation of locking components such as clips of various shapes, totalnumber of components needed to complete the coupling, and interplay ofthe geometry of the port and the stem. All of these have greatlyaffected the cost of producing such couplings which impacts greatly upontheir economic viability.

It has also been important to ensure that such couplings can be usedsafely and reliably. Obviously, one of the primary purposes of suchcouplings is to provide a long lasting leak-free connection. However,over time, increasing emphasis has been placed upon safety. The quickdisconnect characteristic of such couplings necessarily give rise to agreater opportunity for inadvertent and sudden disconnects, with graveresults. This is particularly true in the environments where use of suchcouplings is especially appealing. These include industrial or heavymachinery locations where installations of fluid connections arenumerous, dense, and almost inaccessible, having movement of many hardand heavy objects nearby, including the fixtures upon which thecouplings are often attached. Unexpected impacts upon quick todisconnect couplings or maintenance in such difficult quarters canincrease the likelihood of inadvertent disconnects. Inadvertentdisconnects on pressurized systems can lead to damaged or brokenmachines, destroyed premises, severe injuries to maintenance or otherworkers, or even death, such as through unexpected machinery movement orspray of very hot fluids at high pressure.

One example of a push to connect and quick to disconnect coupling can befound in U.S. Pat. No. 3,773,360 to Timbers, which is incorporatedherein by this reference. It appears to be an attempt to provide bothstraight-forward push to connect and quick to disconnect processes whilesimplifying port and stem design to contain cost. Timbers '360 disclosesthe advantage of a simple port design where no sealing or lockingcomponents or clips are integral. However, the disclosed stem is morecomplex including all sealing and locking components. Further, thelocking component is intricate and relatively complex. Significantly,the disclosed coupling requires an additional component, or stop member,to make the coupling resistant to inadvertent disconnection. Thecomplexity and additional components would increase the cost of thecoupling.

The coupling of Timbers '360 completes its fluid connection by simplypressing the male portion into the female portion. With the stop memberremoved, the coupling is disconnected by additional insertion of themale portion into the female portion into closer engagement. This causesthe port to compress the locking component. The unique and intricateshape of the locking component then allows it to grab unto the stem andstay compressed such that its locking function is deactivated. The twoportions are then separated.

It was apparently contemplated that the coupling of Timbers would beinadvertently disconnected too easily to be safe in many environments.Accordingly, the stop member was included in the disclosure. The stopmember interferes with the male and female portions being pressed intocloser engagement by filling space between the female and male portions.It would appear that the coupling with the stop member in place isresistant to inadvertent disconnection.

However, both the use and shape of the stop member leaves substantialopportunity for the coupling to experience disastrous inadvertentdisconnection. First, there is no way to ensure that the stop memberwill be properly installed on the coupling during the entire time of itsdeployment. The stop member could be absent from the beginning orremoved at any time during the life of the coupling leaving no tell-talesign that anything is amiss. In such a condition the coupling would nolonger be resistant to inadvertent disconnection. Second, the disclosedshape of the stop member includes a loop that extends radially away fromthe coupling. In the environments described above as those where the useof a quick to connect and quick to disconnect coupling is especiallyappealing, the loop would be subject to gathering debris or other beinghooked by moving objects. This gives rise to substantial opportunity forthe stop member to be stripped from the coupling. Once again, thecoupling would no longer be resistant to inadvertent disconnection.

Safety is also compromised by the existence of such a rigid loop in manyindustrial or heavy machinery environments. It can be a direct source ofdamage or injury through the entanglement of debris, tools, clothing,hair or fingers. Further, it is not inconsequential that every time thecoupling is to be disconnected, the metal loop, comprising the stopmember, is removed to become lost as hazardous debris.

Accordingly, there remains the need for a quick to connect and quick todisconnect coupling having simplified design for economic viability, butmore importantly, exhibiting greatly enhanced safety by being highlyresistant to inadvertent disconnection without relying on humanintervention to ensure all safety components are present upon thecoupling, not having dangerous external shapes, and not adding to theopportunity for distribution of dangerous debris.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has as an object the provision of a quick connectand quick to disconnect hose coupling with an improvement in safetywhile retaining economical production and the benefits of suchcouplings.

The present invention is an improved quick to connect and quick todisconnect fluid coupling of the type having a clip, a male portionhaving an annular groove adapted to receive the clip, a female portion,and a sealing element. It is improved by the female portion having adual function frustoconical portion adapted to compress the sealingelement during joinder of the male portion with the female portion aswell as to compress the clip into the annular groove in preparation ofseparating the male portion from the female portion. Further, a sleeveis slideably placed about the male portion and adapted to capture theclip compressed within the annular groove.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form part ofthe specification in which like numerals designate like parts,illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention and togetherwith the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevation, with one quarter cut-away, of a preferredembodiment decoupled or disconnected;

FIG. 2 is an elevation, with one quarter cut-away, of a preferredembodiment during coupling operation (insertion);

FIG. 3 is an elevation, with one quarter cut-away, of a preferredembodiment upon coupling;

FIG. 4 is an elevation, with one quarter cut-away, of a preferredembodiment prepatory to decoupling or disconnection operation;

FIG. 5 is an exploded detail, from FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a locking element in the simplified form of asnap-ring;

FIG. 7 is an elevation of a disconnect tool; and,

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a disconnect tool.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, a preferred embodiment of this quick connectcoupling 1 of the instant invention includes female portion or port 10and hose stem 12. The female portion or port 10 is illustrated as partof an adapter 14 having threads 16 and formed with wrenching flats 18,as one contemplated embodiment and for convenience of illustration.Commonly, port 10 is expected to be machined into the body of a fixture,machine or equipment not depicted. For those instances where port 10 isformed into an adapter 14, adapter 14 provides the base for port 10. Forthose instances where port 10 is formed into a fixture, machine orequipment, these provide the base. Port 10 has an interior surface 20defining an inlet opening 22, an outlet opening 24, a fluid passage 26,a first frustoconical ramp 28, a first cylinder 30, annular wall 32,second frustoconical ramp 36, and optionally second cylinder 34. Firstfrustoconical ramp 28 is a dual function ramp serving functions in boththe connection and disconnection operations, to be described later.Second frustoconical ramp 36 is a lead-in ramp, significant toconnection operation described later.

Still referring to FIG. 1, hose stem 12 includes shaft 38 with a bore 40having a stem inlet opening 42 and a stem outlet opening 44. The shafthas an exterior surface 46 defining a first annular seal groove 48, anannular clip groove 50, an annular step groove 52, a second annular sealgroove 54, sleeve abutment 55, debris barrier 56, hose stop 58, hoseinsert 60, and annular retaining groove 86.

Hose insert 60 would be placed in an opened end of a hose, not depicted,that would carry the subject fluid. Insertion would normally progressuntil the end of the hose met the hose stop 58. The hose would beaffixed in common manner with a clamp or ferrule, not depicted.

First annular seal groove 48 carries first seal 62 and seal backing 64.First seal 62 is a sealing element in the form of an o-ring. Sealbacking 64 serves to increase the pressure at which the coupling canoperate without fluid leaking past first seal 62. Other available sealdesigns are also contemplated.

Clip 66 is a locking element in the simplified form of a snap-ringhaving gap 68, depicted in FIG. 6. Other clip shapes, such as with asquare as opposed to a round cross section are also contemplated. Clip66 is sized small enough that gap 68 must be enlarged to allow clip 66to be large enough to pass over external surface 46. However, clip 66must also be large enough that gap 68 must be reduced to allow clip 66to pass through first cylinder 30. It is preferred that clip 66 is sizedlarge enough that it completely fills the void created by first ramp 28and optionally by second cylinder 34. When so sized, it additionallyacts as a wear buffer prolonging the life of coupling 1 by minimizingthe wearing of port 10. This feature is discussed more fully below. Gap68 must be large enough to allow adequate reduction of clip 66 withinclip groove 50. Clip 66 is initially carried loosely in clip groove 50.

Second annular seal groove 54 carries second seal 70, also an o-ring. Acapture sleeve 72 is mounted upon exterior surface 46 in slideablerelation to stem 12. Sleeve 72 has capture cylinder 74 and shoulder 76.Capture cylinder 74 includes one or more press spots 88 which is theresult of a crimping or pressing operation, and function as restrainingdetents. It is also contemplated that these restraining detents could beformed by machining or molding similar shapes into capture cylinder 74.Press spots 88 are diminutive to allow sleeve 72 to be slid into placeupon exterior surface 46. Once so placed, the interaction of retaininggroove 86 and press spot 88 restricts sleeve 72 from being removed fromexterior surface 46. When sleeve 72 is moved against sleeve abutment 55,second seal 70 is captured under sleeve cylinder 74. Clip 66 is not (seeFIG. 2). When sleeve 72 is moved toward stem outlet 44, as depicted inFIG. 1, clip 66 is captured by sleeve cylinder 74 within clip groove 50.Second seal 70 both seals the interface between exterior surface 46 andsleeve 72 against movement of contaminants, and provides friction todampen movement of sleeve 72. A third seal 80 is placed about capturecylinder 74 to span the gap between shoulder 76 and port 10 whencoupling when coupling 1 is connected. Third seal 80 seals the interfaceof capture cylinder 74 and second ramp 36 against movement ofcontaminants.

Connection of coupling 1 is effected by inserting stem 12 into port 10as depicted in a beginning phase as regards the relationship of stem 12to port 10 in FIG. 2. Note, in the preferred configuration inpreparation of connection, clip 66 is captured by sleeve 72, as depictedin FIG. 1. The insertion continues to the position depicted in FIG. 3.During this insertion, first seal 62 is guided by second ramp 36 intoalignment with first cylinder 30. First seal 62 is then compressed bysecond ramp 28 so that first seal 62 can move into a satisfactorysealing position between stem 12 and fluid passage 26. It is because ofthis sealing relationship that fluid passage 26 can also be referred toas a sealing bore. Sleeve 72 is also guided by second ramp 36 intoalignment with first cylinder 30. As insertion progresses, sleevelead-in 78 abuts first ramp 28. After abutment of sleeve lead-in 78 andsecond ramp 28, insertion of shaft 38 continues even though insertion ofsleeve 72 is halted by this abutment. This results in sleeve 72 movingtoward sleeve abutment 55, relatively, and releasing clip 66. Clip 66 isnow captured only by passage 26. Stem 12 is then retracted to the pointdepicted in FIG. 3, where clip 66 expands into the void left by firstramp 28 and optionally second cylinder 34. Stem 12 and port 10 are nowin axial locking relationship. If a force is applied to stem 12 to expelor pull it from port 10, such as under the influences of fluid pressureor pulling upon stem 12 (“non-allowed separation”), clip 66 will bepressed into step groove 52 by wall 32. Clip 66 will then be jammedbetween step groove 52 and wall 32. Retraction of stem 12 from port 10will not be allowed.

Repeated attempts for non-allowed separation of coupling 1 while in theaxial locking relationship, would wear upon wall 32, and clip groove 50but for the sizing of clip 66 described earlier and the presence of stepgroove 52. Sizing clip 66 largely enough to fit snugly in the void leftby first ramp 28 and second cylinder 34, causes clip 66 to provide theadditional function of a protective insert. A smaller sizing would allowclip 66 to work against wall 32 under the influences of non-allowedseparation, wearing the material in which port 10 is formed, which iscommonly softer than the material from which clip 66 is formed. Theaddition of step groove 52 causes the wear to occur in an orderly mannerthat gives indication of wear, by stem 12 seating in a less insertedmanner in port 10 when in axial locking relationship, without acatstrophic failure of coupling 1.

Capture cylinder 74 of sleeve 72 fills the space between externalsurface 46 and first cylinder 30, stabilizing stem 12 against lateralmovement in relation to port 10. Accordingly, first cylinder 30 can bereferred to as a stabilizing bore.

It is contemplated that insertion could be accomplished from a beginningpoint depicted in FIG. 2 and with capture sleeve 72 abutting sleeveabutment 55. In this configuration clip 66 is not captured by sleeve 72prior to connection. However, this increases the force required forconnection. In this instance, insertion forces would include not onlythe force necessary to compress first seal 62 by second ramp 36 and byfirst ramp 28 in sequence, but the additional force necessary tocompress clip 66 by second ramp 36. The force required to compress clip66 by second ramp 36 can be substantial. By contrast, it can be seenthat connection utilizing the preferred configuration where clip 66 iscaptured by capture sleeve 72 requires substantially lees insertionforce.

Disconnection of coupling is effected by first increasing the insertionof stem 12 into port 10 as depicted by the arrow in FIG. 4. FIGS. 4 and5 depict an intermediate position. First ramp 28 displaces clip 66 fromstep groove 52 toward clip groove 50 and then compresses clip 66 intoclip groove 50. During this operation first ramp 28 can be regarded as adisconnection ramp. Insertion continues until sleeve lead-in 78 abutsfirst ramp 28, and clip 66 is compressed to a size that fits withinpassage 26. Sleeve 72 is then axially moved to the position depicted inFIG. 1, in relation to stem 12 to capture clip 66. This is effected, notby moving sleeve 72 in the direction of the arrow, but rather by holdingit steady while shaft 38 is retracted opposite of the direction indictedby the arrow. In practice this is accomplished by applying a wedgingaction between shoulder 76 and debris barrier 56. A tool such as a bladescrew driver can provide the wedging action by inserting the bladebetween shoulder 76 and debris barrier 56 and twisting. As the tool isof common design, it is not depicted. The special purpose tool 82depicted in FIG. 7 can also provide the wedging action. Tines 84 areinserted between debris barrier 56 and shoulder 76. Special purpose tool82 is then rocked by applying pressure to handle 85 to provide thewedging action. Once clip 66 is thus captured under sleeve 72, thejamming of clip 66 between wall 32 and step groove 52 cannot occur. Thestem 12 becomes free to be disconnected from port 10. Stem 12 isretracted from port 10.

There are several subtle aspects to the instant invention that make itessentially fail safe against inadvertent disconnection. Primarily,disconnection requires a combination of actions that will not occurnaturally. Merely pushing upon stem 12 has no effect upon causingdisconnection. Even pushing upon both stem 12 and shoulder 76 will notlead to disconnection. Disconnection requires the concerted efforts ofpushing stem 12 into port 10 and wedging shoulder 76 apart from debrisbarrier 56. Further, urging capture cylinder toward the clip captureposition without first increasing the insertion of stem 12 into port 10is completely ineffective for two complementary reasons. One, sleevelead-in 78 would actually tend to move clip 66 farther out of clipgroove 50 as well as back toward step groove 52. Two, step groove 52 istoo shallow to allow clip 66 to be compressed to a size that fits withinpassage 26. It can further be seen that sleeve shoulder 76 does notextend beyond the reach of debris barrier 56. According, sleeve 72 doesnot lend itself to being simply grabbed and pushed into this clipcapture position.

These subtleties allow the production of a quick to connect and quick todisconnect couplings that represents a dramatic leap forward in thesafety of such couplings while keeping all of the desirable features.Further, they have led to such couplings without the additional hazardsdescribed in the Timbers '360 (i.e., hazards loops and potentiallyhazardous debris).

The foregoing description and illustrative embodiments of the presentinvention have been shown on the drawings and described in detail invarying modifications and alternative embodiments. It should beunderstood, however, that the foregoing description of the invention isexemplary only, and that the scope of the invention is to be limitedonly to the claims as interpreted in view of the prior art. Moreover,the invention illustratively disclosed herein suitably may be practicedin the absence of any element which is not specifically disclosedherein.

1) An improved quick to connect and quick to disconnect fluid couplingof the type having a clip, a male portion having an annular clip grooveadapted to receive said clip, a female portion, and a sealing element,the improvement comprising: said female portion having a dual functionfrustoconical ramp adapted to compress said sealing element duringjoinder of said male portion with said female portion and to compresssaid clip into said annular clip groove in preparation of separatingsaid male portion from said female portion; and,. a sleeve slideablyplaced about said male portion and adapted to capture said clipcompressed in said annular groove. 2) The improved fluid coupling ofclaim 1 further comprising said male portion having an annular stepgroove adjacent to said annular groove. 3) The improved coupling ofclaim 1, further comprising said clip being a snap-ring. 4) An improvedquick to connect and quick to disconnect fluid coupling of the typehaving a clip, a male portion having an annular clip groove adapted toreceive said clip, a female portion, a sleeve adapted to facilitate theseparation of said male portion from said female portion, and a sealingelement, the improvement comprising: said sleeve being carried upon saidmale portion with axial mobility and adapted to selectively capture saidclip within said annular clip groove. 5) The improved coupling of claim4, further comprising: said male portion having an annular step grooveproximate said annular groove. 6) An improved method of joining anddisjoining fluid passages comprising the steps of providing a femaleportion having a first interior surface defining a first fluid passagehaving an outlet opening, and a sealing bore, and defining a stabilizingbore, and an annular stop wall axially in between said sealing bore andsaid stabilizing bore, and an inlet opening proximate said stabilizingbore, providing a clip, providing a sealing element, providing a maleportion having a second interior surface defining a second fluid passagehaving an outlet opening, and having an exterior surface defining anannular seal groove and an annular clip groove, placing said sealelement in said seal groove, placing said clip in said clip groove,inserting said outlet opening of said male portion through said inletportion of said female portion, continuing said insertion until saidclip axially passes said stop wall and said first fluid passage is influid communication with said second fluid passage, and retracting saidmale portion from said female portion, the improvement comprising thefurther steps of: providing a capture sleeve; slideably mounting saidcapture sleeve upon said exterior surface of said male portion axiallyspaced from said clip groove; forming a dual function frustoconical rampinto said first interior surface of said female portion; compressingsaid sealing element between said dual function frustoconical ramp andsaid seal groove; compressing said clip between said dual functionfrustoconical ramp and said clip groove; and, axially positioning saidcapture sleeve such that said clip groove and said clip are surroundedby said capture sleeve. 7) The improved method of claim 6 furthercomprising said clip being a snap-ring and said clip groove furthercomprising an annular step, and restraining said snap-ring between saidstop wall and said annular step. 8) The improved method of claim 6further comprising said axially repositioning of said capture sleevebeing said capture sleeve remaining stationary in relation to saidfemale portion while moving in relation to said male portion. 9) A fluidcoupling port comprising: a base portion having an interior surfacedefining a bore with a substantially circular inlet opening and asubstantially circular outlet opening; said bore including a fluidpassage proximate said outlet opening and having a first radius; a firstfrustoconical ramp expanding radially from said first radius to a secondradius toward said inlet opening; a first cylinder having a third radiusprogressing axially toward said inlet opening; an annular wallprogressing radially from said second radius to said third radius; asecond frustoconical ramp expanding radially from said third radiuswhile extending axially toward said inlet opening; and, said secondradius being larger than said third radius. 10) The fluid coupling portof claim 9 further comprising said first frustoconical ramp beingadjacent to said fluid passage. 11) The fluid coupling port of claim 9further comprising a second cylinder progressing axially from said firstfrustoconical ramp toward said inlet opening with said second radius.12) The fluid coupling port of claim 11 further comprising said secondcylinder being axially intermediate of said first frustoconical ramp andsaid annular wall. 13) The fluid coupling port of claim 9 furthercomprising said annular wall being at the juncture of said firstcylinder and said second cylinder. 14) The fluid coupling port of claim9 further comprising said third radius being at least as large as saidfirst radius. 15) A fluid coupling stem comprising; a shaft having abore coaxial with said shaft and having an inlet opening and an outletopening; said shaft having an exterior surface defining a first annularseal groove axially spaced from said outlet opening; an annular clipgroove axially spaced from said seal groove and opposite of said outletopening; and, a sleeve slideably mounted upon said exterior surface withfreedom of movement to selectively surround said clip groove or beaxially spaced from said clip groove opposite of said outlet opening.16) The fluid coupling stem of claim 15 further comprising said exteriorsurface defining an annular step groove adjacent said annular clipgroove. 17) The fluid coupling stem of claim 15 further comprising saidexterior surface defining a second annular seal groove axially spacedfrom said clip groove and opposite of said outlet opening. 18) The fluidcoupling stem of claim 17 further comprising said exterior surfacedefining a debris barrier axially spaced from said second annular sealgroove and opposite of said outlet opening, defining a hose stop axiallyspaced from said debris barrier and opposite of said outlet opening, anddefining a hose insert portion extending axially from said stop to saidinlet opening. 19) A method of disjoining fluid passages comprising thesteps of: providing joined first and second fluid passages being influid communication, said first fluid passage being formed in a femaleportion, said second fluid passage being formed in a male portion, saidmale portion being partially inserted into said female portion and beingin axial locking relationship, said female portion having a disconnectramp, said male portion having a first annular groove and a secondannular groove, a sealing element being seated in said first annulargroove and interposed between said female portion and said male portion,a clip being seated in said second annular groove and interposed betweensaid female portion and said male portion, a sleeve being slidablymounted upon said male portion and interposed between said femaleportion and said male portion; increasing the insertion of said maleportion into said female portion; compressing said clip with saiddisconnect ramp into said second annular groove; moving said sleeveaxially, in relation to said male portion, so as to capture said clip insaid second annular groove; and, removing said male portion from saidfemale portion. 20) A capture sleeve comprising a capture cylinder and ashoulder, said capture cylinder including at least one restrainingdetent. 21) A tool for effecting disconnection of a quick to connect andquick to disconnect fluid coupling comprising a plurality of tines and ahandle.